Les Rosan: How do we bring the sensory experience to the audience at home?

Friday, July 5, 2013

It was a simple enough statement back in January 2011 when, during the course of a spirited debate, a friend simply said: “Bars are different.” I didn’t know at the time that this three-word statement would provide the inspiration for the first of my weekly missives. That column, published on January 9, 2011 was titled: “When it comes to laws, bars are different.” The subject of our friendly debate and the topic of that column concerned legislation which prohibited smoking at almost all Michigan workplaces.

I was off and running; and much to my continual amazement, and perhaps to the consternation of others, there have been 124 additional columns and three feature articles since that first tentative effort. My journalistic foray into uncharted waters was not launched without a great deal of trepidation but the journey through the turbulence has become far less intimidating due to some sympathetic friends who have taken great pity upon me. The members of this elite group thankfully provide assistance with weekly editing and topic suggestions. The “committee”, as they are fondly known, have all been assured of lucrative financial reward the moment our collective efforts garner national recognition through syndication. “Just be patient”, I assure them. “We are all going to be rich. Trust me!”

Anyway, during a recent informal meeting of the committee, a potential column topic was discussed when they asked if I had seen the new advertisement for the “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” show. I had to admit that I generally don’t swim in those somewhat polluted waters, so my response was simply: “No, I have not seen it. Why?” I was told that it had something to do with Honey Boo Boo’s flatulence and the fact that that was being considered as a show topic might be worthy of a column.

I agreed and learned soon enough that the “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” show is broadcast by the TLC network. Ironically TLC, known formerly as The Learning Channel, was founded in 1972 as a collaborative effort between the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and NASA as an avenue for free educational programming. (http://www.businessinsider.com)

While engaged in the on-going quest for the ad, I stumbled upon the following website: ww.fastcocreate.com/1683258/honey-boo-boo-ep-howard-lee-explains-the-shows-watch-n-sniff-premiere.

It was here that I located an article written by Jessica Grose, which fortuitously included an embedded video of the commercial. I watched it and surmised that in this particular case the “committee” had gotten it all wrong. The offensive TLC commercial, the TLC network, and our low expectation for what passes as entertainment in this country far exceeds anything that could possibly be covered in a 900-word column. The thirty-second ad begins with the announcer saying: “You’ve seen them, you’ve heard them, and on July 17, you will smell them.” Images flashing on the screen include various members of Boo Boo’s family smelling items including a dirty diaper, a less than fragment armpit, a dead fish, sour milk, a rancid rag of some sort, and the crowning jewel: a well-timed fart from Honey Boo Boo herself as she stood beaming with her proud Georgia family. After Boo Boo’s ignominious moment the narrator returns to intone: “World premier ‘watch and sniff’ event. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Wednesday, July 17, at 9, part of the TLC summer.”

The ad was bad enough, but the story gets much worse. I soon discovered that TLC will be including ten million scratch-and-sniff cards in early July editions of People and US Weekly magazines. In her article Grose explained that “Howard Lee, the creator and Executive Producer of Honey Boo Boo who came up with the promotion, thinks it’s a lighthearted and fun way to attract eyeballs to the new season.” She goes on to quote him as saying: ‘I grew up with the scratch-and-sniff books and cologne ads in magazines…And I kept thinking to myself, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if anyone can smell this at home as I did when I’m on location? How do we bring the sensory experience to the audience at home?”’

Amazing! Yes, truly amazing, isn’t it?

If you are fortunate enough to obtain a scratch-and-sniff card prior to the July 17 premier event TLC would like you to believe that you are indeed one very lucky person. If you possess one of the ten million scratch-and-sniff cards you will hold in your hand the magical key to a night of unique family television entertainment. Gather together for a true bonding experience as you all anticipate scratching those special scent-infused cards as the corresponding numbers appear on your television screen. It just doesn’t get much better than this, does it? What a country!

Fortunately I am old enough to have already experienced the odoriferous aroma of dead fish, dirty diapers, sour milk and even the noxious flatulence escaping from the bowels of a crass 7-year-old. I don’t need a scratch-and-sniff card to appreciate any of this and not since my later elementary school days would I consider it any type of entertainment whatsoever. TLC on the other hand has seized upon the educational and cultural demise of this country by recently promoting Howard Lee as Executive Vice-President in charge of Production and Development.

I’m sure there are great things yet to come from TLC.

“Most people buy the highest quality television sets, only to watch the lowest quality television shows.”

Jarod KintzLes Rosan is a Morning Sun columnist. His e-mail is LRInvestigations@charter.net